Monday, August 24, 2015

On August 20, 2015 at approximately 10:00 p.m. the Thomaston Police responded to 105 Third Street in the City limits of Thomaston in reference to a juvenile male with a gunshot wound to the head. The juvenile was transported to Upson Regional Medical Center and later air lifted to Macon Medical Center in critical condition. On Saturday August 22, 2015 the juvenile was pronounced dead by the on staff medical doctor while in Macon GA at the Macon Medical Center with an autopsy pending with the GBI Crime Lab.

Evidence will show that Christopher Len Jones, 17 of Thomaston who lived at 105 Third Street in Thomaston was in possession of a stolen .45 cal Taurus handgun and was pointing it around the room and while pointing the gun at his brother the trigger was pulled striking the victim in the head. Statements that were given by witnesses that were inside the bedroom during this incident are consistent that the brothers were playing with each other with this weapon and that this act was not intentional.

Christopher Len Jones has been charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Aggravated Assault, Tampering with Evidence, 2 Counts entering Auto and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Crime

Atravius Lee Mizell, 17 of Thomaston was also charged with Two Counts of entering Auto in connection to this case as well.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gwyn family as they mourn the loss of this young man. Certain cases in this community affect some but when a child’s life is lost at such a young age it affects us all.

Friday, August 21, 2015

ACCORDING TO LT. ANDREW PIPPIN OF THE THOMASTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, A 15 YEAR OLD BLACK MALE WAS TREATED AT THE E.R. AT URMC AND THEN AIR-FLIGHTED TO A MACON HOSPITAL WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE FOREHEAD FROM A 45 CALIBER HANDGUN.

THE SUSPECTED SHOOTER, THE VICTIM'S OLDER BROTHER, 17 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER LYNN JONES OF 105 THIRD STREET, IS BEING HELD IN THE UPSON COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF AGGREVATED ASSAULT. JONES SAID HE POINTED THE PISTOL AT HIS YOUNGER BROTHER AND IT WENT OFF.

LT. PIPPIN TOLD HOMETOWN RADIO NEWS, ANOTHER TEEN IN THE BEDROOM, ATRAVIUS MOZELL IS ALSO IN JAIL ON THEFT CHARGES FOR STEALING THE HANDGUN DURING A CAR BREAK-IN AUGUST 19TH.

FIVE YOUTHS, ONE A FEMALE JUVENILE , WERE IN A BEDROOM SMOKING MARIJUANA, WHEN THE HORSE PLAY STARTED WITH THE HANDGUN , ACCORDING TO LT. PIPPIN. NO ADULTS WERE AT HOME.

GEORGIA'S GOVERNOR NATHAN DEAL MADE A STOP IN THOMASTON, TUESDAY, TO SPEAK TO LOCAL CIVIC CLUBS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS .HOMETOWN RADIO WILL AIR HIS REMARKS SUNDAY, AUGUST 23RD AT 6;15AM.

HOMETOWN RADIO'S DAVE PIPER ASKED THE GOVERNOR IF HE HAS ENDORSED ANYONE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL RACE. GOVERNOR DEAL TOLD US HE HAS NOT CHOSEN A CANDIDATE, BUT HE IS ACQUAINTED WITH ALL THE GOVERNORS AND EX-GOVS WHO ARE RUNNING.

ASKED IF A GOVERNOR IS A BETTER FIT TO RUN THE COUNTRY, GOVERNOR DEAL RESPONDED, GOVERNORS ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE EXECUTIVE DECISIONS ON A DAILY BASIS LIKE THE PRESIDENT, AND THAT EXPERIENCE WOULD TRANSLATE WELL IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

COUNTY MANAGER JIM WHEELESS SAID UNLESS PROPERTY VALUES WERE RAISED, TAX PAYERS SHOULD NOT SEE AN INCREASE IN THEIR TAX BILL.

THE COUNTY TAX DIGEST CONTINUES TO ERODE, DOWN $30 MILLION OVER LAST YEAR, A DROP OF OVER 5%. UPSON COUNTY TAX COMMISSIONER BERRY COOK SAID THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE HAS GRANTED AN EXTENSION ON SUBMITTING THE TAX DIGEST, BASED ON REVALUATION OF RURAL LAND BY THE TAX ASSESSORS OFFICE. IT MEANS TAX BILLS WILL GO OUT LATER THAN THE USUAL NOVEMBER 15TH.

One of the most important items on Tuesday night’s agenda was to set the tentative mill rate for 2015. The Board heard from Kathy Matthews, Director of Finance, who reported that the Upson County tax digest shows a decrease in property tax values for 2015, which will result in a decrease in property tax revenue to the school district. Mrs. Matthews outlined the options available to the BOE. Even with the decrease in revenue to the school district, Superintendent Dr. Maggie Shook recommended that the Board of Education maintain the current mill rate of 15.38. Dr. Shook cited the fact that more than 85% of Upson County voters had supported the recent ESPLOST. “I believe we can tighten our belts a little and absorb this decrease in tax revenue. The community has shown their support for the school system by overwhelmingly passing the ESPLOST, and this is our opportunity to show our appreciation to the voters.” The BOE accepted Dr. Shook’s recommendation and voted unanimously to set the tentative mill rate at 15.38. The final vote for the mill rate will occur on Sept. 3 at 8 a.m. in the boardroom of Central Office.

Friday, August 7, 2015

AT TUESDAY’S MEETING—THOMASTON CITY MANAGER PATRICK COMISKEY SAID THE LOW BID FROM TOMMY GIBSON BUILDERS OF WARNER ROBINS WAS $930,000. HE SAID THE RISING COST OF MATERIALS APPARENTLY CAUSED THE INCREASE.

THE WORK INCLUDES A PAVILION, BOAT HOUSE AND RESTROOMS AT LAKE THOMASTON AND $200,000 FOR A PAVILION AND RESTROOMS AT PARK STREET.

Monday, August 3, 2015

UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF DAN KILGORE SAID A BLACK MALE ENTERED THE STORE JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT, WALKED BEHIND THE COUNTER AND POINTED A PISTOL AT THE FEMALE CLERK. HE ORDERED HER TO OPEN THE CASH REGISTER AND DROP THE SAFE. SHE INFORMED HIM SHE COULD NOT OPEN THE SAFE. HE TOOK ABOUT $150 FROM THE REGISTER AND LEFT ON FOOT.

SHERIFF KILGORE DESCRIBED THE SUSPECT AS A BLACK MALE 5-7 TO 5-11, 250 POUNDS WEARING A BLUE KNIT CAP AND A BLUE BANDANA OVER HIS FACE, ALL BLACK CLOTHING, AND WHITE SNEAKERS.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CASE SHOULD CONTACT THE UPSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.